But she’d come up trumps in the EuroMillions millionaire raffle – and he knew it.

When he tried to claim the jackpot himself, Camelot smelled a rat and called in police.

Nizzar, 30, has now admitted fraud and Maureen is about to become a millionaire.

The mum of seven – whose husband Fred, 80, still works for a security firm – said: “I just can’t believe he did this,.

“This money will mean my husband can finally give up work and we can enjoy our retirement.”

She and Fred had been on holiday in Spain when the draw was made and they had missed the winning numbers.

Maureen asked Nizzar – nicknamed Lucky – to check it for her in the cornershop where he worked. He scanned the ticket on a lottery machine, which confirmed the numbers had won the draw eight days earlier.

He told Maureen she was out of luck – then phoned a lottery hotline to claim the prize.

Farrakh Nizzar

Nizzar told Camelot he had bought the ticket at the store where he worked – Best One Convenience Store in Oldham.

But lotto chiefs discovered it had been bought at a Tesco in the Lancashire town.

They were able to trace Maureen because she had used her Tesco Clubcard when she bought the ticket and the store had her contact details. CCTV footage also confirmed she had bought it. Nizzar, of Crumpsall, Manchester, went on the run when he realised he had been rumbled.

He was later arrested and admitted committing fraud by false representation when he appeared at Oldham Magistrates’ Court. He will be sentenced this month.

After the hearing, Maureen said: “I thought he was a nice young man. He knew me and my husband by name. He would ask after my daughter.

“I still feel sorry for him that he’s done it. Everyone calls him Lucky but he wasn’t lucky this time.”

She said she had believed Nizzar when he told her she hadn’t won.

Maureen said: “He said, ‘Do you want me to throw it away?’ I said, ‘Well, if there’s nothing on it you may as well.’

“Then a few days later, a lady from Camelot knocked on the door and asked about the ticket. She said, ‘There’s a possibility a winning ticket has been presented that’s yours.’ I couldn’t believe it.”

The couple, who have seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren, said they have been so upset by the investigation they have not been able to to sleep.

Fred said: “It’s kept us awake at night. All of a sudden I feel 80. I just hope we get this money before it’s too late!

“I’ve been going to that shop for years. I was terribly shocked when I found out what happened. It was unbelievable. We feel let down.”

The couple are looking forward to spending their fortune and have their eyes on a new car and hope to spoil their family.